Volume One, Chapter 26: I Really Have No Trump Card!

"Sacred Blood Release! Crimson Cloud Sword!"

Ye Qinghan’s eyes were filled with little stars; it looked somewhat cool. However, the wind-up was a bit long—if it were her master, he certainly wouldn't be satisfied. She watched as the crimson sacred blood surged from Li Shiyao’s arm, enveloping the longsword in mid-air as if plating the blade with a translucent blood-red film.

"Oh, interesting. This sacred blood seems to have a suppressive effect on fierce beasts!" Although Ye Qinghan was slightly disappointed, she still watched with keen interest. She had expected Li Shiyao’s dramatic shout to precede a powerful ultimate technique. Instead, after all that buildup, it was just a self-buff. Sister Qinghan was quite let down.

Still, Ye Qinghan noticed that although this girl seemed a bit dim-witted, she was not at all hesitant or clumsy when it came to a fight. She hadn't used this sacred blood the entire journey, only bringing it out against this beast. The cleverest part was that the sacred blood was indeed uniquely effective; wherever the Crimson Cloud Sword struck, a sizzling sound followed, accompanied by white smoke, as if the beast were being scorched. This proved that the Saintess knew exactly how to use her blood to inflict more severe damage. In contrast, Dongfang Jue’s spear was clearly not well-suited for dealing with such a massive creature.

"Sister! I can't hold on much longer!"

"Keep going!" Ye Qinghan smiled. Today, she wanted to see the Saintess unleash a real ultimate move.

"Sister, please, help Shiyao! Shiyao is going to die!" Shiyao wasn't in as much trouble as Dongfang Jue had been, but she was struggling to find a way to finish the beast.

"Then use your ultimate! Don't you have something like a Sacred Blood Sword Array?"

"I don't! The elders didn't teach me that!"

"Then you’re on your own!" Ye Qinghan didn't believe her. As the only precious treasure of the Sacred Mountain, how could they not have taught her any ultimate techniques?

"Please, Sister Qinghan, save Shiyao! I really don't have an ultimate move!"

"If you don't use an ultimate, I won't save you! This is your training! You must learn to grow up!" Ye Qinghan sounded so earnest she almost believed herself.

"Good sister! If things go on like this, Shiyao won't live to see the day I grow up!" Shiyao stumbled, then used one hand to vault off the ground like a spring. She steadied herself in mid-air, kicked the beast in the abdomen, and simultaneously backhanded a strike against its lower leg.

"Nice one, Shiyao! Keep it up!" While speaking, Ye Qinghan prepared to increase the difficulty. Although this little fool kept begging, she was clearly still handling it with ease.

Ye Qinghan felt that this level of difficulty was far too simple for a prodigy; she needed to put more pressure on her. She decided to be mischievous and stepped into the courtyard herself. Instantly, the beast doubled in size. Previously, Dongfang Jue had been dealing with two, and though one was already dead, the presence of two people at the Foundation Establishment level caused the beast to scale up to match their strength.

"Eh? Sister Qinghan! It got bigger!"

Now, even the sword coated in sacred blood did little damage, and Shiyao was chased all over the courtyard by the beast.

"Why are you running? Hit it!"

"Sister, I'll give you all my steamed buns! Save Shiyao! I really don't have an ultimate move!" Shiyao couldn't keep up; she only had two legs, and there was no way she could outrun a four-legged beast. She resorted to running toward Ye Qinghan, hiding behind her and using her as a human shield.

"You... aren't you being a bit too embarrassing?" Ye Qinghan didn't mind, though, and with a casual swing of her sword, she instantly dispatched the beast.

Just as Ye Qinghan was about to speak, she felt the world shift. She and Li Shiyao were transported to a place that resembled a fairyland. Surrounded by ethereal mist, with only a desk and an incense burner in front of them, it looked very much like the residence of an immortal. But having seen the Immortal Palace and her master’s bedchamber, Ye Qinghan didn't take this seriously at all. In the Lingxian Hall, even the air one breathed was of immortal grade! What place could compare to that?

"Playing god, are you? If you don't come out, I’ll tear your house down!" While Shiyao looked around in wide-eyed astonishment, Ye Qinghan refused to play along.

"I am the Great Heaven—hey! My table!" Before he could finish, Ye Qinghan had already sliced his little desk in two.

"I told you to come out, why are you wasting your breath?" Ye Qinghan noticed something was off. Her hand, which had been resting on her sword hilt, suddenly drew the Lingxian Sword; to deal with someone like this, she would need her best blade. She knew the Heaven-Falling Ruler was still hovering above her head, and she never doubted her master’s artifacts. There were only two possibilities: this was an illusion, or it was space-based magic or an artifact. Since she could still feel the presence of the Heaven-Falling Ruler, she guessed this was an illusion or trick set by the master of the ruins, and that they were likely still in the Treasure Hall. Not knowing who the opponent was or how strong they were, she decided to play it safe—if she underestimated them and caused a disaster, it wouldn't be worth it. She lashed out with a strike, and with a loud boom, the fairyland aesthetic instantly vanished.

It was crude, but effective. A figure appeared before them.

"The young lady is quite impatient. You wouldn't even let this humble immortal introduce himself?"

"Stop acting like a god. I’m here to take treasures, not to make friends. Cut the chatter!" Ye Qinghan kept a straight face, her guard never slipping. In truth, she could sense the opponent's strength—this person might be a match for her. She guessed he was at least at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. A Foundation Establishment powerhouse—truly terrifying!

"Sister Qinghan, I don't think he means to hurt us." Shiyao rubbed her hands, sensing no malice and believing him to be the immortal mentioned by Xu Zhanfeng.

"Are you a tapeworm in his stomach? How do you know he doesn't want to hurt us?" Ye Qinghan couldn't worry about anything else; if a fight broke out, she couldn't protect Li Shiyao, nor was she obligated to.

"Young friends, do not be anxious. My name is Pei Yunxiao, and I am the master of these ruins. I truly have no intention of harming you two sisters. On the contrary, you have passed my test, and I wish to pass on an immortal-grade cultivation technique to you. What do you think?"

Ye Qinghan straightened up, looked Pei Yunxiao over, and spoke slowly. "Aren't you an immortal? Don't you have anything valuable? We passed your test, and all you’re giving us is some lousy technique?"

"Sister, are you stupid? He said he wants to give us an immortal-grade technique!" Shiyao was shocked, but more so by Ye Qinghan’s words.

"Indeed. I see that you two possess extraordinary talent, and I wish to pass on my life's work to you. How about it?"

"I’m not interested. Give your lousy technique to whoever you want! You’re such a great immortal—are you really this poor? Don't you have any other treasures?"

Ye Qinghan’s two sentences left Pei Yunxiao speechless.

"Young lady, do you think I am lying to you? My physical body has already ascended to the Immortal Realm; this is merely a wisp of my consciousness left in this world. I would never harm you." Pei Yunxiao had taken a liking to Ye Qinghan. At such an age and cultivation level, she was a rare prodigy! While the blonde girl beside her was also quite good, it was clear that Ye Qinghan was the stronger of the two.

"Don't you have anything practical? Gold? Magic artifacts, or something?"